Kids

Avocado Baby Food

It’s dinnertime! The whole family is gathered around the table. The baby, sitting in its highchair, is excited and expectant, fist pumping while clenching a spoon in one of its adorable chubby hands. You’ve just introduced your little one to solids and mealtimes are now full of surprises: Will the baby love peas and carrots? Will it enjoy more textured vegetables, like broccoli and Brussels sprouts? Each day you learn a bit more about what the baby likes, and you can’t wait for it to try new fruits and vegetables.

This is where avocados come in! The fruit you love so much is easy for your baby — and for food prep! The creamy flesh of the avocado is delicious, of course, and its smooth, creamy texture makes it one of the easiest foods for a baby to eat. And the fact that a lot can be done with just little to no prep work means that this fruit can be your reliable go-to in the solid food repertoire. Bonus: Avocados from Mexico are available year-round!

Here are a few ideas about how to incorporate avocado into delightful dishes for your baby:

Simple Avocado Mash

When you’re having one of those “What should we have for dinner tonight?” kinds of days and your baby’s getting restless, showing signs it wants to eat sooner rather than later, a simple avocado mash is the ultimate “Rescue us!” dish. Peel and pit the avocado, scoop it out of the skin, and mash it with a fork or other tool (Check out our avo-mashing tips and tricks here!). Voilá! That’s really all it takes, but if you have a little extra time, mix in some puréed pear or a melon like cantaloupe or honeydew.

Want to learn how to shop for avocados so you can make sure you always have a ripe one at the ready? Watch this video to learn everything you need to know!

Sweet Potato and Avocado Swirl

Sweet potato and avocado both share the property of being smooth and creamy, especially when mashed, so their pairing in this recipe is a winning match. You’ll want to plan to start cooking before baby starts crying; the potato needs to be baked in the oven for about 45 minutes, or pierced all over with a knife and baked in the microwave (time depends upon your particular microwave). You can also slice the raw sweet potato into thin rounds and cook them more quickly in a steamer basket placed atop a boiling pot of water. Once ready, simply mash the potato and avocado and serve!

Avocado and Pea Purée

Want to make sure baby gets a double dose of greens? Combine a fruit (avocado) and vegetable (peas), and pulse them in the blender or food processor for a quick, sweet, and nutritious combination! Note that a serving of avocado is 1/3 of a medium-sized fruit. What do you do with the rest? Well, you could eat it right away, of course, but if you want to save it, here’s a pro-tip about doing so in the fridge.